Hot-plate apparatus for explosive-engines and the like.



H, a? SHHHEHU.

am PLATE AFFARATUS FUR ExPLasivE mews AND THE LiKE.

AFPULAHON HLED HUME], Hi6

Patented Mar. 5, 1915 I SHELYS-SHEEI l.

IN VEN TQR. fmwxd J'SZ ZAJ B Y A T'I'ORNE YS.

H. F. SHEPHERD. HOT PLATE APPARATUS FOR fxPwswE ENGINES AND THE LIKE.

APPMLAHON HLEG NCV.25. I916 udE Patented Mar. 1918. 2' swans-mun 2 1NVEN TOR. M YWM B Y ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD F. SHEPHERD, OF GROVE CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BESSEMERGAS ENGINE COMPANY, OF GROVE CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN-SYLVANIA.

HOT-YLA'IE APPARATUS FOR EXPLOSIVEENGINES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed November 25, 1916.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I'IAROLD F. SHEPHERD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Grove City, in the county of Mercer and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hot-Platepparatus for Explosive-Engines and the like, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to .hot plate apparatus for explosive engines andthe like and consists in certain improvements in the constructionthereof aS will be hereinafter fully described and pointed out in theclaims.

In the so-called hot bulb engine, the plate is maintained at atemperature at which the explosive mixture will ignite. The temperatureof the plate is controlled by the heat produced in the hot bulb throughthe burning of the gases exploded in the running of the engine. Thisheat varies with the intensity of the explosion and a variation in theamount of gases burned and consequently the temperature of the platevaries. This variation is objectionable. If the temperature issuflicient to give proper ignition at light loads the higher temperatureincident to the buriiin of a greater amount of gases for the heavierloads tends to crack the oil used in the mixture and this producescarbon or an objectionable residue.

To obviate this difficulty several plans h-aye been adopted. the usualone being to inject water with the explosive mixture and vary the amountof Water introduced siiilieiently to control the temperature withinworking limits. This adds to the working parts of the engine and is notentirely satisfactory in its results.

The present invention is designed to automatically control thetemperature of the hot plate of the hot bulb so as to give it a properignition temperature and still prevent a very wide variation from thistemperature.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as followsFigure 1 shows a central vertical section through a gas engine cylindershowing my invention.

Fig 2 shows a similar view of an alternative construction.

1 marks the cylinder, .3 the piston, the cylinder head. l the jacket forthe cylinder head, 5 the ignition or combustion chamber Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

Serial No. 133,371.

fuel and air depending somewhat on the type of the engine.

The hot plate 7 forms one wall of a receptacle 8. The receptacle 8 ismounted in a water-jacketed housing 9 and an insulating space 10 15provided between the walls of the receptacle 8 and the housing 9. Thereceptacle has a flange 11 at its upper end which rests on the face ofthe housing 9. A condensing plate or head 12 is arranged over thereceptacle and clamps the flange 11 on the face of the housing 9. Thecondensing plate has a cavity 13 through which water may be circulated,the pipes 14 being provided for this purpose.

A liquid 16 is provided for the receptacle and has a level, as shown atX, covering the plate 7. This liquid is one that has a vaporizing orboiling point at or above the ignition point of tnc explosive mixture. Ihave found sulfur having a vaporizing point of 446 centigrade admirablyadapted for the purpose. For some purposes mercury having a boilingpoint 0f'360 centigrade may be used. v

An auxiliary bulb 17 is provided which may be heated by a torch, orotherwise, for the starting of the engine.

In the operation of the device, the burning gases in the combustionchamber heat the plate 7. This heat is absorbed'bvthe liqu d 16. Whenthe liqu d reaches the boiling point it vaporizes and the vapor comingin contact with the plate 12 is cooled and condensed and returns to thebody of the liquid 16. The rapidity of this vaporization depends uponthe heat generated in the combustion chamber and this is dependent uponthe amount of oil burned, in other words, the load at which the engineis running. The device, therefore, works automatically. With a greatervaporization there is a greater condensation, with a smallervaporization a smaller condensation. The space between the liquid 16 andthe plate 12 insulates the hot plate from the condenser. The condensermay be P aced at some distance from the receptacle 8 but for convenienceis placed directly over it. as shown. It should be, however. ofsufficient capacity to readily condense all vapor that may be formed inthe opi iration of the device under the heaviest loads to which theengine is subjected.

it may be desired with variations of iiii. lure to vary the temperatureof the plate 1'. This may be accomplished y varying the pressure in thereceptacle 6. A. pipe 1;) is provided for this purpose and by puttingthe eccli-tacle under pressure by intri due-lug air or a neutral gasillt liquid in the receptacle may be varied to any pressure desired andits boiling point varied. With this variation in boiling point there isa similar variation in the plate 7. While I have shown and preferred thedissipation of the heat from the liquid 16 by vaporizing this liquid andcondensing the vapor, I do not, in the broadest phases of my invention,Wish to be limited to such a structure.

In the alternative construction shown in Fig. 2, 1 marks the cylinderand 2 the piston. The head. 18 is arranged on the cylinder and this isconnected by an insulating neck 19 with the combustion or ignitionchamber 20. An injector 21 is pro vidcd for introducing fuel or fuel andair as may be desired. A hot plate 22 forms one wall of the combustionchamber. A'rcceptacle 23 surrounds the hot plate and this is closed by aplug 24. A liquid 25, such as sulfur, is placed in the receptacle havingpreferably a level at Y. 111 this case the walls of tile recs taclc areprovided with radiating ribs 26 t ese walls thus forming a condenser forthe vapor given off by'the liquid 25when it is heated above thevaporizing point.

An auxiliary hot bulb 27 is provided for starting the engine. Theoperation is similar to that shown in the structure of Fig. 1 exceptthat the condensation is here accomplished by the air cooled radiatingribs instead of by means of the water circulation as shown in thestructure of Fig. 1.

\Vhatl claim as new is:

1. In a hot plate apparatus for explosive engines and the like, thecombination of a plate to be heated to ignition temperature; and meansfor maintaining a liquid in contact with the plate with a vaporizingpoint at or above ignition temperature.

2, In a hot plate apparatus for explosive engines and the like, thecombination of a plate to be heated to ignition temperature; means formaintaining a liquid in contact with the plate with a vaporizing pointat or above ignition temperature; and means for dissipating the heatfrom the liquid.

3. In a hot plate apparatus for explosive enginesand the like, thecombination of a plate to be heated to ignition temperature: j niea nsfor maintaining a. liquid in contact "with the late with a vaporizingpoint at or gabove ignition temperature; means for di sipating the heatfrom the liquid through it. \ilPUl'; and means tor condensing the 21pmgl\Ull oil by the liquid.

l. in a hot plate apparatus for explosive engines and the like, thecombination of a plate to be heated to ignition temperature; means [ormaintaining a liquid in contact with the. plate with a vaporizing pointat or abov ignition temperature; means for dis sipaling the heat fromthe liquid through its vapor; and means for condensing the vapor givenoil by the liquid and returning the liquid formed by such condensation.

5. in a hot plate apparatus for explosive engines and the like, thecombination of a plate to be heated to ignition temperature; and sulfurmaintained in contact with the plate for dissipating the heat from theplate.

6. In a hot plate apparatus for explosive engines and the like, thecombination of a plate to be heated to ignition temperature; a closedreceptacle in which the plate forms a wall adapted to maintain a liquidin contact. with the plate; and means for controlling the pressure inthe receptacle.

7. In a hot plate apparatus for explosive engines and the like, thecombination of a plate to be heated to ignition temperature; a liquid incontact with the plate; and means for dissipating the heat from theliquid, said means varying the amount dissi atedautomatically as theheat generated the hot plate varies to maintain the temperature of theplate approximately constant.

8. In a hot plate apparatus for explosive engines and the like, thecombination of a plate to be heated to iglnition temperature; a closedreceptacle in w ich the plate forms a wall adapted to maintain a liquidin contact with the plate; and condenser apparatus adapted to act uponvapors roduoed in the receptacle and to return the iquid so condensed.

9. In a hot plate apparatus for explosive engines and the like, thecombination of a plate to be heated to ignition temperature; a closedreceptacle in which the plate forms a wall adapted to maintain a liquidin contact with the plate, said receptacle having a flanged end; ahousing for said receptacle spaced therefrom; a condensing plate forminga cover for the receptacle and adapted to clamp the receptacle on thehousing; and nicans f or circulating a liquid through the condensingplate.

10. In a. hot plate apparatus for explosive engines and the like, thecombination of a plate to be heated, and means for maintaining a liquidin contact with the plate with a vaporizing point at atmosphericpressure at or above ignition temperature.

1]. In a .ot plate apparatus, the combination of a plate to be heated toignition temperature the heat to which the plate is subjected varyingwith variations in the intensity of explosions of the engine; and meansfor dissipating the heat of the plate said means varyin the amountdissipated automatically as t e heat from the explosions vary tomaintain the temperature of the plate approximately constant.

12. In a hot plate apparatus the combination of an ex losion chamber;means for introducing fue tothe chamber; a plate acting on the fuel andsubjected to heat varym with the intensit of the explosions; a liguidissipating the lieat from the plate havln a vaporizing point at apredetermine desired temperature for the plate; and means for condensingthe vapor and returning it to the liquid.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HAROLD F. SHEPHERD.

